Australian bands Hiatus Kaiyote and Tame Impala in running for Grammy Awards

Updated
Mon 27 Jan 2014, 10:15 AM AEDT

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Melbourne band Hiatus Kaiyote is the first Australian group to receive a Grammy nod in the Best R&B performance category.

ABC News

Two Australian bands and a New Zealand singing sensation will be among those competing for honours at the 56th Grammy awards in Los Angeles later today.

Melbourne band Hiatus Kaiyote is the first Australian group to receive a Grammy nod in the Best R&B performance category, for their song Nakamarra.

Perth rockers Tame Impala also received a nomination for their album Lonerism in the Best Alternative Music Album category.

But all eyes will be on 17-year-old New Zealander Ella Yelich O'Connor, better known as Lorde, whose song Royals spent nine weeks on top of the US charts.

The Kiwi teenager earned four nominations, including in the categories of song of the year and record of the year.

This year's Grammys will see dozens of couples marry on air during the live broadcast, as Macklemore and Ryan Lewis perform their nominated song Same Love, which has become an anthem in the campaign for legal gay marriage.

Queen Latifah will officiate at the nuptials, with pop diva Madonna performing the song with the hip hop duo and featured vocalist Mary Lambert.